AP PSYCH: Principal Approaches to Psychology

Structuralism

• Structure of the mind

• Wilhelm Wundt (first lab)

• Uses introspection (inward-looking)

• Basic elements of consciousness - sensations, feelings, and images

Functionalism

• William James

• Explain fuction or purpose of behavior

• mental testing, child development, educational practices

• stream of consciousness

Behavioral Approach

• measuring and recording observable behavior in relation to the environment

• learning —> behavior

• Ivan Pavlov trained dogs to salivate

• ABCs

  • Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequences

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Approach

• Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

  • Inconscious interal conflcits to explain metnal distorders, personality, and motivation

• unconscious = source of desires, thoughts, & memories

• Talk with patients over long periods of time

Humanistic Approach

• Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, etc argued humans are unique

• Free will & personal growth

• Importance of emotions

• Human nature is good!

• People have the ability to solve their own problems

Biological Approach

• How chemical and biological processes within the nervous and endocrine systems are related to behavior

Evolutionary Approach

• Explain behavior patterns for natural selection processes

Cognitive Approach

• Thinking & Memory

• receiving, storing, and processing information

• thinking, reasoning, & language

• Jean Piaget studied cognitive development in children

Sociocultural Approach

• How social & environmental factors influence cultural differences in behavior

Biopsychosocial Model

• Integrates biological processes, psychological factors, and social forces

• Psychologists who use techniques and adopt ideas from a variety of approaches are considered eclectic